Page 21 of Alien Knight Teddy Bear Troubles

Little trickster. She couldn’t hold back her own bubble of laughter. “How old is he? Three? Four?”

Taeger’s gaze became a bit hooded, as if the question was not a welcome one. “Something like that. We aren’t exactly sure.”

Well, that was a loaded statement, so she let it go. “Let’s roll, shall we? Before the Dark Ones fix their ship and catch up to us.”

Greig cleared his throat. “My apologies, Cassie. I informed Taeger just before your arrival. The Dark Ones’ ship has disappeared from our scans.”

“What does that mean, exactly?” Cassandra’s heart began to pound.

Greig shook his head. “Many things, my lady.”

Taeger filled in the gaps. “It means they have repaired their ship and are most likely on their way to Mora Five.”

Shit. “How much time do we have?”

Grieg shrugged. “Hours? Perhaps a day. We will not know until they arrive.”

“And then it will be too late,” Cassie said.

Terror bubbled up in her unexpectedly and she had no defense against it. Shocked, she doubled over with a gasp and clung to the edge of the table with a white knuckled grip. Until her hand lost its hold and seemed to gothroughthe table, causing her to lose her balance and stumble before righting herself.

What was happening to her?

Taeger was at her side at once, his arm supporting her. “What is wrong?”

“I don’t know.” Her body seemed to have a mind of its own. And that hand thing? That had to be her imagination, right?

She was losing her mind. Panic. Hallucinations. She knew what this was. PTSD. She’d read all about it, seen too many others suffer from flashbacks and panic attacks, witnessed soldiers drop to their knees trying to fight off enemies that weren’t there.

Without another word, Taeger pulled her close, wrapped his arms around her and surrounded her with heat until the urge to run screaming from the room left her system.

Against everything she thought she should do, she clung to him and accepted the comfort and safe haven he offered. She shouldn’t be like this, but knowing those monsters were coming this way was too much for her to handle.

Which made her feel weak and stupid. She’d kept it together the entire time she’d been chased, trapped, herded onto that ship like a cow to slaughter, and done her best to keep Ion and everyone else in that room calm. She’d done a damn good job. She should be proud of herself. She should be feeling like a giant, strong as hell and determined.

She wasn’t supposed to feel terror at the idea of those things coming back. She was supposed to be brave. Fearless. Ruthlessly determined to complete her mission.

Charlie and Smith and every living being on Earth were counting on her.

Breathing normally now, she tried to push Taeger away, but he wasn’t allowing her to move. “No, Cassie. You are still trembling. Stay right where you are.” Above her, she felt the strain of his muscles in his chest as he turned his head to Greig. “Change of plans. Contact Marcano. Use the emergency code so he knows it’s us. Tell him to get anyone left alive ready for evacuation. We will land the King’s Fury at base. You will oversee the evac while I take a team with Cassie to retrieve her injured crewmen.”

“Yes, sir.” Grieg quickly left the room and she was alone with Taeger.

“Cassie. Tell me what is wrong.”

When she shook her head, he lifted his hands to cup her face and tilted her chin up until their eyes met.

Tenderly, Taeger brushed her hair back and kissed her “Cassie, I will retrieve your crewmen. You go with Ion, settle into my quarters and play a game with him. Rest. Take your mind off the enemy and allow me to help you.”

His gaze locked on hers and she saw no judgment there, no pity. He was a warrior and a protector and he wanted to protect her, not because he thought she was weak, but because that was simply who he was.

She fell. Hard. Totally and completely gone. In love. Her heart felt like it exploded inside her chest, the pain like nothing she’d ever experienced before and silent tears escaped from the corners of her eyes to slide over her temples and into her hair.

His eyes darkened further as he caught sight of one, chased the hot liquid with a fingertip.

“I’ll be fine.”

“No. That is not an acceptable answer.”

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